California Napa valley
Pope Valley Winery – Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Réserve
Napa Valley
The nose is aromatic, racy and offers complexity, a certain racy power and elegance. It reveals notes of quite ripe wild blackberry, ripe plum, small notes of ripe strawberry associated with touches of dry redcurrant, tobacco leaf as well as hints of local forest ground/sense of the place and a subtle balsamic hint. The palate is fruity, well-balanced and offers a mineral frame, fat, fullness as well as a fine/discreetly tight grain, a good guideline and a racy minerality. On the palate this wine expresses notes of quite ripe blackberry, pulpy/quite ripe cassis, small notes of violet associated with touches of dry cherry, quite ripe redcurrant as well as hints of sense of the place/oak leaf, tonka bean, discreet hints of tobacco, an imperceptible hint of camphor and toasted almond. Good length.
Score : 16.25+/20 (93/100)
Newton – unfiltered 2018 Chardonnay
Napa Valley
The nose is fruity and offers elegance, a certain power, a small richness as well as a fine grain and a small fleshiness. It reveals notes of pulpy/juicy pear, bright pear, small notes of quenette associated with touches of toasted, vanilla as well as fine hints of citrus (mandarine, lemon) and toasted. The palate is fruity, elegant, well-balanced, full of finesse/straightness (despite a certain power) and offers gourmandize, juiciness, a good definition, a mineral frame, finesse in its construction and a beautiful delicate fat. On the palate this wine expresses notes of juicy/pulpy pear, crushed peach, small notes of small white fruits associated with touches of lemon, mesocarp as well as fine hints of kumquat, lychee, a hint of exotic fruits, butter and toasted. Good length. A beautiful gourmandize in the persistence.
Score : 16.25+/20 (93/100)
Newton – The Puzzle 2018
Napa Valley
The nose is fruity and offers complexity, intensity (full of finesse), power (full of elegance) as well as deepness (full of elegance). It reveals notes of bright wild blackberry, small wild black fruits, small notes of raspberry associated with touches of wild blueberry, small blue fruits, cornflower as well as hints of liquorice stick, fresh mild tobacco, spices, discreet hints of vanilla and discreet hints of roasted herbs. The palate is fruity, well-balanced, full of delicacy and offers a mineral frame, juiciness, a good definition, gourmandize as well as minerality (full of delicacy) and power (full of delicacy). On the palate this wine expresses notes of bright blackberry, small blue berries, small notes of cornflower associated with touches of bright blueberry, saline hints, sweet spices, nutmeg, sense of the place, very discreet hints of vanilla and discreet hints of roasted herbs. Good length. Tannins are elegant, precise, fine, powerful but controlled. Score : 17.75+/20 (96/100)
V. Vineyards – Audace 2018, Cabernet Sauvignon Ruby Vineyard
Sonoma County (Mayacamas Mountains)
The nose is aromatic and offers elegance, a flowery side and an aerial character. It reveals notes of violet, blackberry, small notes of small local wild flowers associated with small touches of crushed raspberry, ripe strawberry as well as hints of spices, a subtle hint of nutmeg, a discreet hint of pepper and an imperceptible hint of thyme. The palate is fruity, well-balanced, full of minerality and offers gourmandize, a fine concentration as well as a good definition and a juicy/acidulous frame. On the palate this wine expresses notes of pulpy/juicy raspberry, raspberry, small notes of pulpy/acidulous cassis associated with touches of violet, small local fresh flowers, mocha as well as fine hints of mild tobacco and a hint of cardamom. Tannins are massive, elegant and polished. Score : 17+/20 (94-95/100)
Hill Family Estate – Sauvignon Blanc 2019
Atlas Peak, Napa Valley
The nose is fruity, racy and offers gourmandize as well as a beautiful fine grain and a fine intensity. It reveals notes of fresh/juicy pear, peach, small notes of fleshy apple associated with small touches of quenette, a racy minerality, discreet hints of citrus, sense of the place and a subtle hint of yuzu. The palate is fruity, well-balanced and offers a juicy/mineral frame, a good definition, gourmandize as well as a certain aromatic purity. On the palate this wine expresses notes of pulpy/fleshy apple, quenette, small notes of lychee associated with small touches of apple flowers, mandarine, a subtle hint of yuzu as well as an imperceptible hint of sense of the place/fresh vegetation and fresh almond (in the background). Good length.
Score : 15.75+/20 (91-92/100)
Sunshine Valley Vineyards – Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Napa Valley
The nose is fruity, elegant and offers power (full of freshness) as well as a certain intensity. It reveals notes of wild blackberry, wild strawberry, small notes of mocha associated with touches of cherry blossom, small wild red berries as well as fine hints of violet, lilac, spices, discreet hints of cuben pepper and an imperceptible hint of green curry. The palate is fruity, well-balanced and offers an acidulous frame, juiciness, a good definition as well as minerality and a pulpy/acidulous fruit. On the palate this wine expresses notes of pulpy/acidulous raspberry, juicy/pulpy red berries, small notes of juicy cassis associated with touches of juicy/acidulous violet plum, cherry blossom, fine hints of cardamom, mocha, toasted hazelnut and a very discreet hint of fresh mild tobacco. Good length. Tannins are well-built.
Score : 16.75/20 (93-94/100)
V. Vineyards – Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Single Vineyard
Sonoma County
The nose is fruity, fresh, beautifully racy and offers a controled/on hold power, deepness (full of delicacy), harmony. It reveals notes of pulpy strawberry, pulpy/ juicy cherry, small notes of violet associated with small touches of fresh cassis as well as small hints of cranberry, fresh flowers, delicate hints of Badiane, fresh vegetation and very discreet hints of spices. The palate is fruity, well-balanced and offers an acidulous frame, juiciness, a good definition, a certain gourmandize as well as a beautiful racy minerality, deepness, a fine/powerful grain and a certain concentration (full of finesse). On the palate this wine expresses notes of pulpy/ juicy raspberry, redcurrant, small notes of juicy/fresh cassis associated with touches of cranberry, fresh mild tobacco as well as hints of fresh/dry almond, sense of the place/fresh local vegetation, very discreet hints of sweet spices and liquorice. A subtle and nice hint of good bitterness in the finish/persistence. Good length. Tannins are precise and offer a certain softness. A beautiful wine. Score : 16.75+/20 (94/100)
Medlock Ames – Newcomb 2019, Sauvignon Blanc
Alexander Valley, Sonoma County
The nose is fruity, fresh and offers gourmandize as well as a small fleshiness. It reveals notes of fleshy brugnon, juicy/pulpy pear, small notes of fleshy apple associated with touches of lychee as well as fine hints of apple flowers, a discreet hint of minerality and acacia. The palate is fruity, well-balanced, racy, elegant and offers a beautiful precision, fullness (full of finesse), a fine acidulous frame. On the palate this wine expresses notes of pulpy/juicy brugnon, juicy apple, small notes of juicy/ pulpy pear associated with touches of lychee, sugared mandarine, fine hints of lemon flowers, acacia and a subtle hint of exotic fruits.
Score : 16/20 (92/100)
Theorize – Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Napa Valley
The nose is aromatic and offers concentration, a beautiful spicy side and a certain deepness. It reveals notes of juicy/acidulous Boysen berry, small red berries, small notes of wild strawberry associated with touches of cardamom, Brazilian pepper, tonka bean as well as fine hints of spices, nutmeg, discreet hints of roasted herbs/ roasted thyme. The palate is fruity and offers structure, a small concentration, a gourmand fruit, an acidulous frame as well as a good work of the bitter. On the palate this wine expresses notes of pulpy/juicy blackcurrant, crushed raspberry, small notes of strawberry associated with touches of tonka bean, cardamom, small juicy blue berries as well as fine hints of violet, roasted hazelnut, a discreet hint of toasted thyme and pepper. Good length. A persistence on notes of mocha and caramelization.
Score : 16/20 (92/100)
Theorize – Sauvginon Blanc 2019
Napa Valley
The nose is fresh and offers concentration, a certain power and fruitiness. It reveals notes of fresh/crunchy William pear, apple, small notes of fresh oak associated with small touches of fresh lychee, fresh nectarine as well as a discreet hint of fresh mandarine, zests and dry almond. The palate is fruity, well-balanced and offers tension, a juicy/acidulous frame, a stretchy side as well as minerality, a small fat and a good structure. On the palate this wine expresses notes of pulpy/ fresh brugnon, crunchy/fresh William pear, small notes of juicy/pulpy/fresh apple associated with touches of juicy pink lychee, lemon, mandarine, a discreet hint of mesocarp, exotic fruits and elderflower. Good length. A beautiful persistence. Score : 15.5+/20 (91/100)